Electric circuit breaker



June 22, 1937. c. BRESSON ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Feb. 18, 1935 Fig. 2

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Patented June 22, 1937 UNITED STATES ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER Charles Bresson, Villeurbanne. France, assignor to Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Delle, Paris, France Application February 18, 1935, Serial No. 7,138 In Germany February 20, 1934 14 Claims. (Cl. 200-150) Electric circuit-breakers are known in which a portion of the arc is drawn out in the interior of an extinguishing chamber containing a liquid, whilst another portion of the arc is drawn out l outside said chamber. In circuit-breakers 0! this type, the liquid contents of the extinguishing chamber, partially decomposed and subjected to pressure by the arc, are projected against that portion of the arc whichis developed outside the extinguishing chamber.

Insome of-these circuit-breakers, the fixed contact is disposed in the interior of the extinguishing chamber, and in others it is situated outside this same chamber. On opening the cirsuit, the movable contact traverses the chamber axially and emerges completely from same at the end of the circuit opening operation.

When high tension current is to be interrupted, the displacement of the movable contact 30 becomes so important that a considerable portion 01 the arc is developed outside the extinguishing chamber, either on one side or on both sides of same. In such a case the arc is free and by a lateral displacement from its normal situation 25 in the axis of the chamber it consequently frequently escapes the extinguishing action of the blast. The length of the arc is thus unnecessarily increased and this in turn augments the voltage of the arc and results in an important dissipa- 30 tion of energy which is detrimental to the satisfactory operation of the apparatus.

The present invention avoids these disadvan tages by maintaining the arc in the axis of the apparatus. It consists in providing the vessel 35 filled with liquid forming part of circuit-breakers of the above referred to type with one or a plurality of guiding devices surrounding the are developed outside the extinguishing chamber along at least a portion of its length, these guiding 40 devices being separated from the extinguishing chamber and between themselves by spaces filled with liquid, such spaces communicating laterally with the peripheral layers of the liquid in the vessel surrounding the extinguishing chamber and the guiding devices.

The guiding devices may be constituted by rings, annular crowns or nozzles disposed concentrically with respect to the axis of the extinguishing chamber, and their interior diameters will preferably be smaller than the maximum interior diameter of the extinguishing chamber.

These guiding devices may be located between the extinguishing chamber and the fixed con- .tact situated outside said chamber or between said chamber and the movable contact in its open position, or again in both of theselocations.

The use of such guiding devices is advantageous in all circuit-breakers in which the height of the extinguishing chamber is smaller than the 60 maximumseparation oi the two contacts, and

this particularly so in that class of circuit-breakers in which the blowing eflect of the extinguishing chamber is reinforced by a supplementary blowing effect independent from that created by the action of the are on the liquid contained in said chamber.

Figs. 1 and 2 of the annexed drawing show diagrammatically and by way of example two embodiments of the invention as applied to a circuit breaker of the last referred to type.

In Fig. 1 of the annexed drawing, the vessel l of the circuit-breaker is filled with the liquid 2. In the axis of said vessel l is disposed the extinguishing chamber 3 provided with an upper nozzle 4 and a lower nozzle 5. On either side of chamber 3 and in the axis of same are disposed the fixed contact 6 and' the movable contact I, this latter being shown in its position of maximum opening. The movable contact I is constituted by a tube in the interior of which is disposed a fixed piston 8, these two members constituting a supplementary blowing device which during the separation of the contacts injects a blast of liquid around the arc and through the extinguishing chamber 3.

Between the lower nozzle 5 of chamber 3 and the fixed contact 6 are provided two guiding rings 9 and I0 disposed concentrically about the central axis of the apparatus. These rings are fixed to the interior of a support having the form of a tube l2 constituting a prolongation of the lateral walls of chamber 3. Said rings are separated between themselves, from chamber 3 and from the fixed contact 6 by spaces in lateral communication with the peripheral layers l3 0! the liquid 2 surrounding chamber 3 through a plurality of apertures ll of large area provided in tube I2. Said tube l2 constituting a connecting means between members 3, 9 and It) can be replaced by any other connecting means provided that such connecting means will not hinder the easy communication of the spaces separating members 3, 9 and III with the outside liquid. This point is important as the pressure created by the arc in these spaces must be prevented from attaining a value comparable with that produced in the interior of extinguishing chamber 3.

The operation of the circuit-breaker is as follows: At the beginning of the separation of contacts 6 and and before the penetration of lower extremity contact Urflside extinguishing chamber '3, the c is n out through guiding rings 9 and 10. By reason of the presence of the large apertures II this arc is unable to create an appreciable pressure under extinguishing chamber 3 during the second stage of the opening of the circuit-breaker when contact I penetrates inside said chamber. At this instant and until the end of the displacement of contact I, the contents of extinguishing chamber 3 are projected against the external portions the are. This extinguishing blast is reinforced by the action of the additional injection device constituted by tube I and piston 8; this additional injection can take place either from the very beginning of the separation of the contacts or only during the said second stage simultaneously with the extinguishing action of chamber 3. Although an appreciable portion of the arc is thus developed outside chamber 3, between nozzle and contact 6, this are closely surrounded by rings 9 and HI is unable to depart from the central zone of tube i2.

Evidently rings 9 and iii are made from insulating material or are insulated from the contacts of the circuit-breaker.

In accordance with the greater or smaller distance separating the lower nozzle 5 of chamber 3 from contact 6, a simple guiding ring or a plurality of guiding rings may be employed.

On the other hand, in the event of the lowering of the situation of the extinguishing chamber 3, rings of this type or other similar guiding devices could also be provided or even be exclusively provided between the upper nozzle 4 and the extreme open position or movable contact 1.

The circuit-breaker shown in Fig. 2 differs from that just described in that it is designed for lower voltage circuits, the maximum separation of contacts 6 and I being smaller. The distance between the lower nozzle 5 o! extinguishing chamber 3 and the outside fixed contact 6 being consequently reduced, the tree portion of the arc traversing this space is correspondingly shorter. In this embodiment, in order to maintain this portion oi the are along the axis of the circuitbreaker, it is merely necessary to extend in downward direction the lateral walls of extinguishing chamber 3 towards the base by means of a perforated cylinder l2, as shown in Fig. 2. The diameter of this cylinder may be equal to that of extinguishing chamber 3, as shown in the drawing, or it may on the other hand be smaller.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. An electric circuit-breaker comprising, in combination, a vessel containing liquid; an arc extinguishing chamber having aligned openings, one at either end; a fixed contact exterior to and spaced from one end of said chamber; a cooperating contact movable toward and from said fixed contact in alignment with said openings to draw an are through said chamber; arc guiding means between said fixed contact and said chamber, said guiding means being spaced from the axis of said openings 9. distance not greater than the distance from said axis to the inner wall of said chamber; and supporting means to sup port said chamber and said are guiding means in their relative positions within said vessel, said chamber and said guiding means being submerged in said liquid, and said supporting means adjacent said guiding means being provided with ports for free passage of said liquid.

2. An electric circuit-breaker, comprising in combination, a vessel containing liquid; an are extinguishing chamber having aligned openings, one at either end; a fixed contact exterior to and spaced from one end of said chamber; a cooperating contact movable toward and from said fixed contact in alignment with said openings, to draw an are through said chamber; and are guiding means between said fixed contact and said chamber and spaced from the axis 0! said openings a distance not greater than that from said axis to the inner wall of said chamber, said guiding means and said chamber being submerged in said liquid.

3. An electricv circuit-breaker comprising, in combination, a vessel containing liquid, an arc extinguishing chamber having aligned openings, one at either end; a fixed contact exterior to and spaced from one end of said chamber; a cooperating contact movable toward and from said fixed contact in alignment with said openings, to draw an are through said chamber; and arc guiding means comprising at least one annular member of electrically non-conductive material surrounding the axis of said openings between said fixed contact and said chamber, the diameter of said annular member being not greater than the diameter of said chamber, said guiding means and said chamber being submerged in said liquid.

4. An electric circuit-breaker comprising; in combination, a vessel containing liquid; an arc extinguishing chamber having aligned openings, one at either end; a fixed contact, a cooperating contact movable toward and from said fixed contact in alignment with said openings, to draw an are through said chamber, said fixed contact being exterior to and spaced from one end 01 said chamber a distance greater than the length of the path of said movable contact within said chamber; and are guiding means between said fixed contact and said chamber and spaced from the axis 01' said openings a distance not greater than that from said axis to the inner wall of said chamber, said guiding means and said chamber being submerged in said liquid.

5. An electric circuit-breaker comprising, in combination, a vessel containing liquid; an arc extinguishing chamber having aligned openings, one at either end; a fixed contact exterior to and spaced irom one end 01 said chamber; a cooperating contact movable toward and from said fixed contact in alignment with said openings, to draw an are through said chamber; and

arc guiding means comprising an annular member of electrically non-conductive material surrounding the axis 01 said openings between said fixed contact and said chamber, said guiding means and said chamber being submerged in said liquid.

6. An electric circuit-breaker comprising, in combination, a vessel containing liquid; an arc extinguishing chamber having aligned openings, one at either end; a fixed contact exterior to and spaced from one end oi said chamber; a cooperating contact movable toward and from said fixed contact in alignment with said openings, to draw an arc through said chamber; arc,

guiding means comprising at least one annular member of electrically non-conductive material surrounding the axis of said openings between said fixed contact and said chamber, the diameter of said annular member being no greater than the diameter oi! said chamber; and Supp rting means to support said chamber and said are guiding means in their relative positions within said vessel, said chamber and said guiding means being submerged in said liquid, and said supporting means adjacent said guiding means being provided with ports for free passage of said liquid.

7. An electric circuit-breaker comprising, in combination, a vessel containing liquid; an arc extinguishing chamber having aligned openings, one at either end; two contacts, the one fixed and the other movable in alignment with sa d openings to draw an are through said chamber: and are guiding means spaced from the path followed by said movable contact exterior to one end of said chamber in drawing an are through the latter, the distance separating said guiding ing means from said path being not greater than the distance of the wall of said chamber from said path, said chamber and said guiding means being submerged in said liquid.

8. An electric circuit-breaker comprising, in combination, a vessel containing liquid; an arc extinguishing chamber having aligned openings, one at either end; two contacts, the one fixed and the other movable in alignment with said openings to draw an arc through said chamber; and are guiding means spaced from the path followed by said movable contact exterior to one end of said chamber in drawing an are through said chamber the distance separating said guiding means from said path being not greater than the distance of the wall of said chamber from said path; and supporting means to support said chamber and said guiding means within said vessel, said chamber and said guiding means being submerged in said liquid.

9. An electric circuit-breaker comprising, in combination, a vessel containing liquid; an arc extinguishing chamber having aligned openings, one at either end; two contacts, the one fixed and the other movable in alignment with said openings to draw an are through said chamber; and are guiding means comprising at least one annular member of electrically non-conductive material surrounding the path followed by said movable contact exterior to said chamber in drawing an are through the latter, the diameter of saidannular member being no greater than the diameter of said chamber, said guiding means and said chamber being submerged in said liquid.

10. An electric circuit-breaker comprising, in combination, a vessel containing liquid; an arc extinguishing chamber having aligned openings, one at either end; two contacts, the one fixed and the other movable in alignment with said openings to draw an are through said chamber; and are guiding means comprising an annular member of electrically non-conductive material surrounding the path followed by said movable contact exterior to said chamber in drawing an are through the latter, said guiding means and said chamber being submerged in said liquid.

11. An electric circuit-breaker comprising, in combination, a vessel containing liquid; an arc extinguishing chamber having aligned openings, one at either end; two contacts, the one fixed and the other movable in alignment with said openings to draw an arc through said chamber; arc guiding means comprising at least one annular member of electrically non-conductive material surrounding the path followed by said movable contact exterior to said chamber in drawing an arc through the latter, the diameter of said annular member being no greater than the diameter of said chamber; and supporting means to support said chamber and said guiding means in their relative positions within said vessel, said guiding means and said chamber being submerged in said liquid, and said supporting means adjacent said guiding means being provided with ports for free passage of said liquid.

12. An electric circuit breaker comprising, in combination, a vessel containing liquid; an arc extinguishing chamber having aligned openings, one at either end; two contacts, the one fixed and the other movable in alignment with said openings to draw an arc through said chamber, the length of the path traversed by said movable contact exterior to one end of said chamber being longer than its path within said chamber; and are guiding means spaced from said path exterior to said chamber a distance no greater than the distance of the wall of said chamber from said path, said chamber and said guiding means being submerged in said liquid.

13. An electric circuit-breaker comprising, in combination, a vessel containing liquid; an arc extinguishing chamber having aligned openings, one at either end; two contacts, the one fixed and spaced from one end of said chamber, and the other movable in alignment with said openings to draw an are through said chamber, the walls of said chamber being extended at one end about the space separating said fixed contact from that end of said chamber; said chamber and said extended walls thereof being submerged in said liquid and said extended walls being provided with ports for the free passage of said liquid.

14. An electric circuit breaker comprising in combination, a vessel containing liquid; an arc extinguishing chamber having aligned openings, one at each end; two contacts, the one fixed and the other movable in alignment with said openings to draw an are through said chamber, the wallsof said chamber being extended at one end about the path traversed by said movable contact exterior to said chamber, said chamber and said extended walls being submerged in said liquid and said extended walls being provided with ports for the free passage of said liquid.

CHARLES BRESSON. 

